5-year-old autistic boy could spend his sixth birthday as a hostage

The hostage standoff in Midland City, Alabama continues onto its sixth day, ABC news said. Bus driver Charles Poland was taking kids home from school on Tuesday when he stopped to let kids off and Jimmy Dykes boarded the bus around 3:40 p.m, CNN said. When Dykes demanded two children Poland stood in front of the aisle and told Dykes, 'Just please get off the bus,' ABC new reported. At least 21 kids were able to escape out the emergency exit at the back of the bus durning the time Poland was confronting Dykes, said police. Dykes then pulled out a gun and shot Poland four times, killing him, and then abducted 5-year-old Ethan, CNN reported. Police said there is no connection between Dykes and Ethan, or if Dykes was looking to take a specific child upon boarding the bus. After abducting Ethan, Dykes took him to a nearby bunker four-feet underground where they have been held up for the past six days, ABC news said. Ethan has Asperger's syndrome and attention deficit disorder, making it necessary that he receive his prescription medication, CNN reports. Dykes has been in constant communication with negotiators through a 60-foot-long plastic ventilation pipe, which is also being used as a means of transporting Ethan's medication, coloring books, crayons and potato chips, CNN reports. Authorities are not releasing any information in regards to what Dykes is asking for from negotiators or as to what police are planning to do to rescue Ethan and end this standoff, ABC reports. Ethan is physically unharmed, but has been crying for his parents, Police said. For now, negotiations continue with the sole purpose of getting Ethan out unharmed, CNN repots.